Spain: 2013/2014 cherimoya production volumes to drop by 20%

For this year's cherimoya campaign,which starts in September and lasts, thanks to a second flowering, until May orJune, Spain expects to produce approximately 40 million kilos; 20% less than inthe 2012/2013 season.

This was reported by the president ofthe Regulatory Board of the cherimoya PDO Granada-Malaga Tropical Coast,Antonio Sánchez, who explained that this drop in production volumes is theresult of the hailstorm that hit the area on 29 August 2013, and which affected400 hectares of plantations. Sánchez, who estimated the losses at 20 millionEuro, believes that the Andalusian Government's criteria in assigning aid toproducers and funding for infrastructures has been unfair.

"Granada will be the lastAndalusian province to have its motorways finished and its growers stillneed a proper irrigation network, which results in waterprices up to 0.50 Euro per cubic metre, compared to the 0.03 Euro per cubicmetre paid in Malaga."

Sánchez said to be convinced about"the promising future of tropical crops in the province, as they areprofitable despite the cost disadvantages mentioned."

The president of the cherimoya Regulatory Board, also board member of the Spanish Association of Tropical Fruit Producers, stated that Granada's avocado acreage, currently at around 2,000 hectares, could expand and reach up to 15,000 hectares with a better irrigation network.

Sánchez confirmed that, in a recent meeting with the minister of Agriculture, Miguel Arias Cañete, the organisation's members addressed the need to start the first stage of a project to facilitate the irrigation of 4,000 hectares on the right bank of the river Vélez for the cultivation of mangoes and avocados.

Source: Abc